Metal table



Sept. 9, 1947.

E. c. Boo'rH METAL TABLE Filed Aug. 7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Sept. 9, 1947. E, c, BOOTH v 2.427,185

METAL TABLE I File@ Aug. 7, 1944 2 shees-sheet 2 INVENTOR. fiez C'. oor/f,

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Patented Sept. 9, 1947 METAL TABLE Earl C. Booth, Columbus, Ind.,

assignor to Noblitt-Sparks Industries, Inc., Columbus, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application August 7, 1944, Serial No. 548,343

8 Claims. l.

My invention relates to tables and more particularly to extensible tables formed of metal. Such tables commonly comprise two sections each provided with a top in the form of a sheet-metal stamping suitably re-inforced, the two sections being slidably interconnected by two parallel guide rods to provide for the insertion of an extension leaf between the two tops.

It is the object of my invention to improve the construction of tables of the type above described. More speciiically, it is one of my objects to eliminate the possibility of disagreeable noise which sometimes results from relative movement of the metal guide-rods through the comparatively thin sheet-metal members in which they are received. Another object. of my invention is to provide means by which the tops of the two table-sections may be made accurately ilush with each other when the table is collapsed or flush with the upper surface oi the extension leaf when the table is extended. Y

In carrying out my invention, I provide each table section with a pair of coaxial non-metallic bushings or grommets for the receipt of each of the guide rods by which the two sections of the table are interconnected. At least one of the two grommets nearest the center of each guide rod is mounted for vertical adjustment relative to its associated table-section so that the meeting edges of the tops of the two sections can be adjusted relatively to make them flush with each other.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention: Fig. 1 is a plan View of a metal table with portions of the topbroken away; Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmental elevation of the inner end wall of a table-top; Fig. 4 is a section on the broken line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a grommet and its adjusting means in place; and Figs. 6 and '7 are fragmental sections on the lines E- and i-l' respectively of Fig. 5.

The table shown in Fig. 1 comprises two sections, each having a top Il! provided with legs Il at its outer corners. Each top Il] is formed with a downwardly extending peripheral ilange I2 and with an inner end wall I3. In addition, each section is provided with reinforcements including, in the construction shown, a transversely extending cross member I4'. Each top, including the end wall I3 and reinforcing `members I4, is desirably built up of sheet-metal stampings.

As will be clear vfrom Fig. 1, the two sections of the table are interconnected by a pair of parallel guide-rods I6 which pass through and are slidably supported from the end walls I3 and cross-members I4. The two guide-rods are desirably in the form of metal tubes. By relative movement of the two table-sections along the guide rods the two tops II) can be brought together or can be separated for the interposition of an extension leaf I1. The leaf I1 is desirably formed as a sheet-metal stamping and provided with a peripheral flange I8 notched to receive the guide rods I6 so as to be located and supported thereby, as will be clear from Fig. 2.

Where it passes through the end wall I3 or reinforcing member I4 of each table-section, each of the guide rods I6 is surrounded by a non-metallic grommet 20 provided with an outwardly presented peripheral groove adapted to receive the edges of the opening in the sheetmetal member (I3 or I4) through which the guide rod I6 extends. Conveniently, each grommet2ll is of a synthetic plastic and is split, 4as indicated at 2| in Fig. 5, so that it may be collapsed to an extent sufficient to permit it to be inserted into an opening in the sheet-metal member with which it is to be associated. If the grommet is made of thermoplastic material, the split 2l may be eliminated and the grommet inserted after warming it to a temperature sufcient to permit its distortion.

When the grommet has been inserted as just described and the guide rod I6 placed within it,

it can not be again collapsed and hence will remain permanently located relative to the tablesection. The grommets 20 prevent metal-tometal contact of the guide-rods with the sheetmetal elements through which they pass, and hence eliminate the possibility of disagreeable noises which might otherwise result when the table-sections are moved toward or away from each other.

In order to bring the upper surfaces of the two table tops IU into a flush condition, grommets associated with the end walls I3 are mounted for vertical adjustment relative to such end walls.

-To accomplish this result, the openings 22 which receive the guide-rods in each end wall I3 are formed as indicated in Fig. 3. As there shown, each such opening is elongated vertically and is provided at its side edges with notches 23. Below such notches, the metal at the edge of the opening is offset inwardly relative to the tabletop to provide an arcuate ange 24 having upwardly projecting parallel extensions 25. The distance between the extensions 25 corresponds approximately to the base diameter of a grommet 20, so that a grommet may be disposed in association with the opening 22 with the flange 24-25 received in its peripheral groove and be capable of vertical movement while still located axially of itself by the flange.

To control the position of a grommet on` the ange 2li-25 I employ an adjusting lever 2'! pivoted to the'end wall |3 by a bolt or rivet 2'8. The lever `2l is of a'thickness such that it can be received in the peripheral groove of the grommet and its side edge is desirably provided with va notch approximately corresponding in curvature to the base of the grommet-groove, as will be clear from Fig. 5. Beyond the grommet 2Q, the adjusting lever 27 is screw-threaded for `th'e reception of an adjusting screw 30 adapted to bear against an ear 3| struck up fromthe end wall i3. A tongue 32 offset from the end wall I3 provides a guide for the free end of the adjusting lever 27.

At the inner end of each table-top l the table top will bear downwardly on the guide-rod l as the result of the force-of gravity, inconsequence of which it is necessary -only to limit upward movement of the grommets '20 associated with the end walls i3. The adjusting levers 21 and their associated screws 30 provide :a means by which such upward-movement canbe llimited. Where lit is deemed necessary to provide for bringing `the two table tops intoa flush-condition xonly when the table is collapsed, only two of the adjusting levers 2, one infassociationwith each guide-rod i8, need 'be employed, as is indicated lin 6. But by employing four of the adjusting levers, one at each point -where a guide-rod llS -passes through an-end wall I3, the vtable ytops i can -be brought into a condition ilush with veach Aother when the table .is collapsed or ush with the extension leaf i7 when the table is-extended.

In operating the adjusting mechanism, k-the table sections are brought into Athe relative positions they `are -`to occupy when a ush condition of the table tops is desired, and the screws 33 are adjusted either to Ilower the top which is to'o high or to raise the top which is to'o `low until the desired ilush condition is attained. Theprovision of this adjustment makes it `unnecessary to control manufacturing 'operations Vwith the accuracy which Wouldlbe required if the vertical location of grommet-receiving vopenings in rthe end walls t3 were depended upon to maintain the two table-tops yflush-with each other.

It is not essential that the guide yrods Il@ be slidable in both sectionsof 'the table; but I :prefer to make them so, -as it is thereby possible to'increase the extensibility -off the table while sti-ll maintaining an adequate spacing -of the two points 'at which each `guide rod is supported in each table section. It is of course necessary to provide the grommets 2G only 'aft points where there is relative movement between guide rods and table-sections.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an extension table having Atwo sections each including a top and legs, guide Irods interconnecting said sections 'and longitudinally slid'- ab'le relative to 'at least vone of them to permit the inner ends `of the two tops to vbe brought together or separated,r for the vinsertion of 'an extension leaf between them, abushing slidably receiving each Vguide rod, means 'supporting said bushing for vertical movement 'in one of said table-sections, and means for adjusting said bushing vertically Yin said supporting means.

2. The invention set forth in'cla'irn :1 with the addition that said adjusting means comprises a 4 lever pivoted at one end to the table section on a horizontal axis and extending over and bearing on said bushing, and an adjusting screw for adjusting the other end of said lever.

3. In an extension table having two sections each including a top and legs, guide rods interconnecting said sections and longitudinally slidable relative to at least one of them to permit the 'inner ends of the two vtops 'to be brought together or separated yfor the insertion of an extension leaf between them, each table section being provided with a sheet-metal end wall extending in a substantially vertical plane beneath and transversely of the top at its inner end,

said end wall being provided with an opening through which one of said guide rods extends, said opening being larger than said guide rod, the metal around the lower edge of said opening being oiset from the plane of the wall to form a generally U-shaped flange, a guide-rod receiving bushing in each of vsaid openings, said bushing being provided with a vperipheral groove receiving said ange; land means 7for adjusting said bushing vertically yrelative to said flange.

'4. In an extension table having Itvvo sections each including a top and legs,guide rods interconnecting said sections -and longitudinally slidable relative to at least oneofthem to permit the inner ends-of the two tops yto be brought-together or separated for Ithe insertion vof an `extension leaf between them, each table sectionlbeing provided with a sheet-metal end wall-extending in a substantially vertical 'plane beneath and transversely of the top at its inner end, said end wall being provided with an opening through which one 0f said guiderods extends, said opening being larger than said guide rod, `the metal-around the lower edge-"of said opening being 'offset from -the plane of 'the wah to form a generally U-shaped flange, a guide-rod receiving bushing `in each of said openings, said bushing being provided with a peripheral groove receiving said flange; 'a lever pivotal-ly attached .at one yend to said end and extending across .and bearing on fsaid bushing,

' and means for adjusting the other fend of said lever.

5. In an extension table lhaving two sections each including a top and legs, guide 'rods interconnecting said sections and 'longitudinally slidable relative Ato at `Aleast Yone Iof them to permit the inner ends of the two tops to be `brought together or separated for the insertion of an extension leaf between them, each table section being provided with'asheet-metal endwall Iextending in a substantially vertical plane beneathfand transversely of the 'top at its inner end, said end wall being provided with an lopening through which one of said guide rods extends, said opening being larger than said guide rod, the metal around the lower edge of saidopening being-onset from the plane of the wall to form a generally U-shaped flange, a guide-rod yreceiving bushing in each of said openings, said bushing being provided with a peripheral groove receiving said flange; a lever pivotally attached at one end to said end `and extending across and bearing'on said bushing, an adjustingscrew mounted! in saidlever, and an ear struck up from said end wall,the upper end of saidscrewibe'aring on `said ear.

6. In an extension table having 'two sections each including a topand-1egs, guide rods interconnecting said sections and longitudinally slidable relative to at -least one of them to permit the inner'ends of the two tops to be brought together or separated for the insertion of an extension leaf between them, a member disposed beneath the top of each section near each inner corner thereof, said guide rods being slidably received within said members, and means for vertically adjusting each of said members relative to its associated top.

'7. In an extension table having two sections each comprising a top and legs, one of said sections being provided With two parallel, longitudinally spaced sheet-metal reinforcing members extending transversely of and beneath the top, each of said reinforcing members having a web disposed in a vertical plane, alined holes in said webs, bushings of nonmetallic' material in .said holes, and guide rods slidable in said bushings, said guide rods being operatively connected to the other table-section.

8. In an extension table having tWo sections each comprising a top and legs, each of said sections being provided With two parallel, longitudinally spaced sheet-metal reinforcing members extending transversely of and beneath the top, ea-ch of said reinforcing members having a web disposed in a vertical plane, alined holes in said webs, bushings of nonmetallic material in said holes, and guide rods slidable in said bushings. EARL C. BOOTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 981,163 Burton Jan. 10, 1911 2,283,351 Booth May 19, 1942 

